Wednesday, Oct. 8, the Pro-life rally week on Cater Lawn was interrupted by a rally called Lives Lost To Misogyny.
The rally was put together almost overnight by Auburn students in response to the crosses on Cater Lawn put together by the organization Auburn University Students For Life.
"I think these crosses are misogynistic because they're shaming women for having abortions," said senior in microbiology Imani Tucker. "We felt that since this happens every year, there's a lot of misinformation and shame associated with a display like this and we wanted to counter that."
Tucker said the Anti-Misogyny rally was born out of a discussion in Andrea Baldwin's men and masculinities class.
The demonstration isn't about whether or not you agree with abortion, it's about making people feel ashamed about their actions, said Megan Skipper, junior in human development and family studies.
"We were talking about how intrusive and shaming [the crosses] are and we decided that if [the Auburn Students For Life] are able to put on a demonstration, we should also be able to counter that demonstration and provide more information about the things they're presenting," Skipper said.
October is not only Respect For Life month, but also Domestic Violence Awareness and LGBT Pride month as well.
The Anti-Misogyny rally is an attempt to bring awareness to the interconnectedness of all movements, Tucker said.
Members of the Auburn Students For Life were also in attendance, though observing from a distance.
"We're here representing the pre-born babies who were aborted, which are represented by the crosses," said senior in interdisciplinary studies Sarah Hirschfeldt. I" think its very easy for the world to see people who are pro-life as people who attack those who make the decision, and yes there are pro-life people who are like that, but that's not at all why we're here. I can only speak for myself but I want to fight for the dignity of all humans."
Hirschfeldt said she has never been implicated in a situation in which she had to consider getting an abortion, but that she still believes that abortion should be illegal in the United States.
"It's the most personal thing, and for someone to almost make the decision for that individual, I can see how people would look at that and see that's unfair," Hirschfeldt said. "A life is a life, whether inside the womb or out. I believe that as a human I feel like it's my job to do everything I can to stop the life being taken."
Hirschfeldt said she doesn't exactly agree with the views of the protestors, but hopes that the groups can come together in promoting awareness about the dignity of life.
Elizabeth Glaser, sophomore in communication disorders, said the crosses were there to symbolize graves and the lives lost to abortion as part of a display called "The Cemetery of the Innocents".
Accompanying the crosses is a sign stating that each of the 150 crosses erected represents 20 individual lives that are aborted each day in the United States.
"This issue is just so important to our world today, I believe that everyone has a right to life and I want to stand up for that," Glaser said.
Though the university gave permission for the crosses to be staked on Cater Lawn, many find them to be tasteless or offensive.
Skipper, Tucker and the other members of the Men and Masculinities class who gathered on Cater to challenge that decision said they'd rather inform people about practical options than appeal to emotions.
Among the options considered is raising money for single mothers or prenatal care, Skipper said.
"No one should ever feel alienated by something that's going on campus," Skipper said. "I know people who have personally hurt by this display and we want to make sure that everyone on campus knows that there are people on their side and give them options besides this one-dimensional display," Skipper said.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
